Efforts underway to combat child cyberbullying across Europe

Cyberbullying has become a phenomenon rampant around the world, impacting hundreds of thousands of children. According to the World Health Organization, one in six school-aged children experienced online bullying across Europe during 2024.

In an attempt to combat online bullying, France has made it mandatory since 2023 for children under 15 to obtain parental consent to register on social media platforms.

According to data from e-Enfance Association for Protection of Children Online, 82% of minors are exposed to harmful content online, including drug and weapon sales and inappropriate photos and videos.

In 2021, Ireland adopted the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act, known as “Coco’s Law”. The law provides for severe penalties, including up to 7 years in prison and fines if harassers are convicted.

Laws and penalties for child cyberbullying are not yet uniform across EU countries, but reports indicate that efforts are underway to establish regulations to combat this growing phenomenon.